Cova Arias usually studies oysters, not tarballs. But when balls of
oil started washing up outside her Dauphin Island, Alabama, Lab after
the BP oil spill, the Auburn University professor and her team wondered
whether the tarballs contained any of the lethal bacteria that they
track in seafood, Birmingham News writer Hannah Wolfson reports.

The
researchers found that the tarballs are teeming with bacteria,
including Vibrio vulnificus, the leading cause of death from eating bad
oysters. Now Arias is seeking grant money to find out more about
bacteria in tarballs. Mostly, she wants to know what kind they are and
what they're doing there. Are they benefiting from the degrading oil, or
do the blobs just provide a structure? Are any of them helping break
down the oil?

Also, the researcher warns that it's best to give
any tarballs -- which show up on Gulf beaches even when there's not a
major spill -- a wide berth, even though it's unlikely most people will
get sick from them.

The report divided the online community. Some
commenters appreciated the discovery and the warning. Others found the
danger overblown. Read some of what people are saying:

• "I would not knowingly go where these tarballs are present. Give
her the grant because I want to know what I am walking barefoot on,
sitting on, swimming in, etc.

"Independent research is going to help me and others make informed
decisions about where to vacation. And, until further notice, it will
not be the Gulf of Mexico. In my opinion, the Gulf is ruined for
generations to come." -- Church of What's Happening Now

• "Should there also be hazardous materials warnings saying there may
be dead crabs on the beach and, like tarballs, should not be touched?
Or warnings that water is not breathable so nobody goes in and tries to
breathe underwater? Or warnings that debris that washes up on the beach
may have sharp edges?

"Looks like the Church of What's Happening Now wants to have somebody
else responsible for everybody's common sense. Here's a good rule -
don't do stupid things and don't let your kids do stupid things and
you'll be much healthier and happier." -- bikerdude

• 'As a licensed internal medicine physician, I feel responsible to
quell any worries that would otherwise likely proceed unhinged causing
widespread panic. First of all, humans do not consume tarballs...at
least, most people I know do not eat them. Second, I am NOT surprised V.
vulnificus was found on the tarballs...saltwater areas are laced with
this organism. Third, the people most at risk for developing either a
secondary wound infection (e.g., infected cut from shelling oysters) or
sepsis (overwhelming bacterial presence in the bloodstream causing shock
and multi-organ system failure) are the following:

"The people at risk for this infection are no more at
risk than usual now that this organism was found in the tarballs.
Please, do not panic...but if you have any of the aforementioned medical
illnesses, I'd think twice about eating raw or undercooked saltwater
seafood products." -- FEV1wheezer

• "Doctors take what, like a basic intro to micro course? Leave the
micobiology to the people that specialize in it. I have worked with
Vibrio, and although less common than E.coli or others, the few mothers,
fathers, etc. that die from it could be your own. The vast majority of
people with liver disease don't even know they have it. So as she said,
it's best to stay away." -- thaticannotdo

• "So, like, don't eat the tarballs, right?" -- thefallingman

•
"Why in the he** wouldn't folks want to know how all this oil is
affecting the gulf over the long term? Don't you like going to the beach
and eating seafood without being poisoned? Sheesh, I hope the country
isn't judging us by the average level of thought put into these posts.
If you think this oils is no big deal then put an eyedropper of 10W-40
in your gatorade before your morning run and let me know how it works
out." -- Graphic_D